10 Video Games With Genuinely Impressive Level Design

10. Tunic

To say that designer Andrew Shouldice's Tunic is a Zelda clone would be simultaneously accurate and incredibly reductive. While obviously inspired by the 2D entries in the landmark Nintendo series - right down to the protagonist's iconic garment - it also presents some of the most innovative design concepts we've seen in a long time, especially in its levels.

Shouldice has cited rock climbing as an inspiration for how the player interacts and progresses through its adorable world. Like rock climbing, the game compels the player to progress steadily, observing your environment from various visual and conceptual perspectives in order to plan or react accordingly while maintaining a level head.

Throughout the game, the environment acts as both a tutorial and a reward mechanic. Observing terrain or various object interactions teaches you to consider new concepts and strategies. And a minor shift in camera perspective reveals secrets and shortcuts.

Instead of rewarding the player with useless loot or collectibles, Tunic rewards the player with discovery, new interactions and new forms of progression. This sort of design philosophy should seriously just be the industry standard from now on.